1 . As new data from Famileo reveals the loneliness issue in the UK, its founder looks at the reality of social isolation in today’s digital age.

A consumer survey conducted by Famileo has revealed that nearly half of British adults feel disconnected from their loved ones nowadays. The past few years have been unquestionably tough. The isolation of the pandemic has led to many of us experiencing prolonged feelings of loneliness and seclusion (隐居), even long after any restrictions were lifted. Pair this with the ongoing cost of living crisis, and people are socializing with others far less than before. The way we interact with others has become dominated by digital channels, social media exactly. While social media have proven an incredibly useful tool, most of Brits believe that our growing reliance on technology to interact has impacted the frequency of in-person social interaction, leading to increased isolation.

Another contributing factor to social isolation is physical distance. Combined with the demands of our increasingly busy lives, the physical distance between family members often prevents us from keeping in contact with our loved ones as often as we would like.

Talking of social isolation, our minds often spring straight to the older generations who regularly find themselves left out, owing to their declining physical capacity and a gap in digital literacy. Interestingly though, despite effortlessly navigating the digital landscape, it is younger generations who report feeling the most isolated, 41 per cent of people aged from 16 to 24 feeling the rise of social media causing increased isolation.

While digital platforms like Facebook serve as a means to send photos and life updates quickly and easily, the majority of Brits still love the tangible (可触摸的、可感知的) experience of receiving personal post. Considered a dying art, it is clear snail mail, still has its place. Whether it be a letter, birthday card, or family newsletter, I have seen how enriching the touchable experience of sending and receiving personal post can be, to people of all ages. Nurturing relationships and fostering a profound sense of being loved and better connected to loved ones, it is a vital tool that we should employ as a means to not only relieve the effects of social isolation, but simply brighten someone else’s day.

1. What does the word “lifted” underlined in the second paragraph refer to?

A．Removed.

B．Placed.

C．Ignored.

D．Raised.

2. What is the attitude of the majority of the British towards the impact of digital channels on social contact?

A．Neutral.

B．Indifferent.

C．Favorable.

D．Critical.

3. What does the author suggest readers do?

A．Make someone else’s day.	B．Turn to snail mail in the digital age.
C．Bridge the gap in digital literacy.	D．Foster a: sense of loving and being loved.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．The Hardship of the Past Few Years	B．Exchanging Touchable Personal Post
C．Social Isolation in the Digital Age	D．Older Generations’ Gap in Digital Landscape

2 . The year 2023 witnessed the occurrence of significant cultural events, with culture and tourism becoming even more closely connected. Let’s review the major cultural events of 2023 as we bid farewell to the year and embrace the new year of 2024!

Museum visits rise in popularity in summer

Tourists were seen queuing for long hours in front of museums and obtaining entrance tickets became more challenging. In response to the growing demand, 46 museums in Beijing canceled their customary Monday closures and remained open daily until August 31. The rise in “museum fever” can be credited to various factors, including the public’s increasing enthusiasm for traditional Chinese culture, the booming market for youth educational tours and summer camps, as well as the continuous innovation of museums.

Old tea forests in Pu’er win World Heritage Site title

The newly named heritage site, located in Lancang Lahu autonomous county in Pu’er, Yunnan province, consists of five large-scale, well-preserved old tea forests, which stand 1,250 to 1,500 meters above the sea level, three protective barrier forests, and nine ancient villages in the old tea forests, which are mainly inhabited by Blang and Dai ethnic groups. The cultural landscape was jointly created by the ancestors of the Blang people—who immigrated to the Jingmai Mountain in the 10th century AD and later discovered and domesticated wild tea trees—and the native Dai people.

Protection plan released for Beijing’s Central Axis

The plan is said to be one of the necessary steps toward bidding for UNESCO World Heritage status. Alongside regulations on the protection of the Central Axis carried out earlier, the plan is in line with the requirements of World Heritage conservation. The 21 member countries of the World Heritage Committee will decide on whether Beijing’s Central Axis can be added to the World Heritage List at the committee’s 46th annual conference in 2024. If the application succeeds, it will reinforce Beijing’s top position among cities worldwide by number of World Heritage Sites.

1. Which of the following is NOT the reason for the rise in “museum fever”?

A．Museums’ ceaseless innovation.

B．The constant innovation of summer camps.

C．The growing market for youth educational tours.

D．People’s growing passion for traditional Chinese culture.

2. Which of the following statements is TRUE concerning the cultural events?

A．46 museums in Beijing stayed open all year round.

B．The Blang people are the natives in Jingmai Mountain.

C．The heritage site in Pu’er consists of four large old tea forests.

D．Beijing’s Central Axis hasn’t been added to the World Heritage List yet.

3. In which magazine would a reader most likely find this text?

A．Wonders of the Natural World	B．Scientific Exploration
C．Chinese Culture Research	D．Art and Architecture

3 . On January 14, 2006, Ben Keene received an email that changed his life. He had just taken a sip of hot tea when the message popped up, and Keene did a double-take at the subject line: “A TRIBE IS WANTED”.

From there, Ben co-founded Tribewanted, an eco-friendly sustainable community existing in the virtual world of the internet and on an actual desert island at the same time.

With huge media interest, the courageous and bold idea could have had enormous consequences for tourism. The idea behind Tribewanted was to recruit (招募) a group of similar people online before heading to the Fijian Island of Vorovoro to build a sustainable community alongside the local native tribe.

The idea was swept along with a flood of interest, with the island lease (租约) was secured, the virtual community sprung to life. All major decisions on the island were voted on by an online tribe that anyone around the world could join. The idea was so exciting that the journey was turned into a 5 part BBC series “Paradise or Bust” and a book, Tribewanted.

Ben spent 10 years building and expanding Tribewanted beyond the crowdfunded sustainable-tourism villages on an island in Fiji, to a beach in Sierra Leone and a farm in Umbria. He faced challenges including a fire sweeping through the island in the first week of the project, a military coup (政变), and a hurricane that threatened to destroy the emerging village. Online disagreements also made decision making hard and pushed the project to the edge.

The project survived, and for a while, thrived. From there Ben joined Escape the City, a global community with the mission to help one million people to do work that matters to them and the world, inspiring thousands of talented career changers and ambitious businessmen to take the leap and launch their ideas into the world. Ben led the Escape school team for 5 years, and became a business advisor and guider at Virgin Startup, and Zinc. Ben has supported and guided thousands of people to set up impactful businesses on a limited budget.

1. What is Tribewanted?

A．A voting software.	B．An island adventure project.
C．An employment plan.	D．An eco-community in virtual and real worlds.

2. Which phrase may best replace the underlined “sprung to life”?

A．passed on.	B．came into being.
C．got involved.	D．struggled to survive.

3. What might be Ben’s intention of joining Escape the City?

A．To seek funds for his Tribewanted.

B．To call for investment in remote islands.

C．To support people to launch influential businesses.

D．To help ambitious businessmen to change careers.

4. In which column can you read this text?

A．Inspiring people.	B．Connected lives.
C．Inventive solutions.	D．Global business.

4 . When faced with change, most people go down one of two roads: They either respond or react.     1     Reacting, on the other hand, literally means to meet one action with another. It’s instant. Responding creates more space between an event and what you do about it. In that space, you give immediate emotions room to breathe and you gain a better understanding of what is happening. Consequently, you rarely regret responding.     2    

There is plenty you can do internally to cultivate responsiveness. For instance, “affect labeling”, or naming your emotions, helps create space between you and a difficult situation. Meditation (冥想) is also beneficial.     3     You can do all the affect labeling and meditation in the world. Yet if you regularly inhabit reactive environments, it’s hard not to become more reactive.

    4     When I spend too much time on social media, I’m more likely to roar at my children, feel restless, and my competence in thinking deeply worsens significantly. Yet I’m becoming increasingly concerned that it’s not just me, but our entire culture that is making us more reactive at a time when we need our humanity more than ever.

    5     But distinctly naming the problem is an important first step. We can also reduce reactivity by intentionally creating more responsive environments. We can read print books instead of digital versions. We can go to the gym or take walks without phones. If we desire to navigate our challenging times, we must find ways to preserve the space between stimulus (刺激) and response, which is to say we must find ways to preserve our humanity.

A．But the external matters too.

B．But you often regret reacting.

C．I’ve experienced this firsthand.

D．There are no silver bullet solutions.

E．I have figured out how to deal with this.

F．On the one hand, reacting is crucial for our humanity.

G．Responding, related to responsibility, is considerate.

5 . The lunch in the back room of a dull Moscow restaurant consisted of small bites of food and large shots of vodka. Musk had arrived that morning with Adeo Ressi and Jim Cantrell on their search to buy a used Russian rocket for their mission to Mars. After many toasts to friendship, the Russians gave the Americans gifts of vodka bottles with labels that had each person’s image. Musk, who was holding his head up with his hand, passed out, and his head slammed into the table.

That evening, slightly recovered, Musk and his companions met with another group in Moscow selling used missiles. That encounter turned out to be equally odd. The Russian in charge was missing a front tooth, so whenever he spoke loudly, which was often, spit would fly out in Musk’s direction. At one point, when Musk started his talk about the need to make humans multiplanetary (多行星), Cantrell recalls, the Russian spit at them. “Did he just spit on us?” Musk asked, eyes wide open. “Yeah, he did,” Cantrell answered. “I think it’s a sign of disrespect.”

Despite the clown show, Musk and Cantrell decided to return to Russia in early 2002. Ressi didn’t come, but Justine did. This time Musk focused on buying two Dnepr rockets, which were old missiles. The more he negotiated, the higher the price went. He finally thought he had a deal to pay $18 million for two Dneprs. But then they said no, it was $18 million for each. “That’s insane!” he says. The Russians then suggested maybe it would be $21 million each. “They taunted him,” Cantrell recalls. “They said, ‘Oh, little boy, you don’t have the money?’”

It was fortunate that the meetings went badly. It drove Musk to think bigger. Rather than merely using a secondhand rocket to put a demonstration greenhouse on Mars, he would attempt one of the most audacious (大胆的) projects of our times: privately building rockets that could launch satellites and then humans into orbit and eventually send them to Mars and beyond.

1. What happened during the lunch in the Moscow restaurant?

A．Musk got seriously drunk.	B．Musk bought a used rocket.
C．Musk was hit on the head.	D．Musk made lots of friends.

2. How did Musk react when the Russian spat at him?

A．Embarrassed.

B．Shocked.

C．Anxious.

D．Ashamed.

3. What does the underlined word “taunt” mean?

A．Try to annoy.

B．Try to inspire.

C．Try to amuse.

D．Try to disappoint.

4. What lesson can you learn from this passage?

A．Money can’t buy everything.	B．Constant dripping wears away a stone.
C．Repetition plays a critical role in success.	D．Frustration can sometimes be a stepping stone.

6 . Best U. S. National Parks for 2023

Today, 63 national parks in the U. S. draw millions of visitors a year to witness jaw-dropping natural wonders. To determine the best national parks, we considered the opinions of both travel experts and recent visitors. Do you have a favorite park? Cast your vote below.

#1 Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is called the “Crown of the Continent” for its breathtaking beauty. A favorite spot among hikers, it features a variety of trails for all levels, ranging from the easy Trail of the Cedars to the challenging Grinnell Glacier. Besides, the park boasts numerous lakes and two mountain ranges, sheltering a variety of wildlife.

#2 Grand Canyon National Park

Measuring approximately 277 river miles in length, up to 18 miles wide and a mile deep, this canyon is truly a natural wonder. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Grand Canyon always leaves its visitors impressed. But if you’re seeking an escape to Mother Nature, be prepared: The Grand Canyon can be very crowded.

#3 Yellowstone National Park

With dramatic peaks and pure lakes, Yellowstone National Park is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Multicolored pools, hot springs, stretching meadows, and steaming geysers (间歇泉). While you cross its 3,000-plus square miles of mountains, geysers and waterfalls, be prepared to share the trails with residents like buffalo (水牛).

#4 Yosemite National Park

Enjoying extraordinary landscapes, Yosemite National Park features towering waterfalls, millennia-old sequoia trees (红杉树), striking cliffs and unique rock formations. Most tourist activities take place within the Yosemite Valley. Here you’ll find the park’s most famous landmarks—Half Dome and El Capitan—as well as excellent hiking trails.

1. What can you do in Yellowstone National Park?

A．Appreciate waterfalls.	B．Join wildlife preservation.
C．Camp at mountain peaks.	D．Swim in colorful pools.

2. Which park might appeal to wildlife enthusiasts?

A．Yosemite National Park and Glacier National Park.

B．Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

C．Yosemite National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

D．Grand Canyon National Park and Glacier National Park.

3. Where can you probably find this passage?

A．In a research paper.	B．On a tourist website.
C．In an ecology journal.	D．In an instruction book.

7 . 学校英文报正在以“Amazing Hunan”为题开展征文活动。请你结合以下图示，写一篇短文投稿。
要求：
(1)短文必须包括图示中的所有要点，可适当发挥；
(2)80词左右(标题和开头都已给出，不计入总词数)；
(3)文中不得出现真实人名和校名。

Word bank: transport 交通；convenient 方便的

Amazing Hunan

Hunan is a lovable and livable place.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . I wasn’t raised to be a fan of snails (蜗牛). I was always taught that if we see a snail on a plant, we should pick it off and_________on it. This brought us the kind of giggly (咯咯傻笑的) _________that only children experience. We loved it. However, my_________on snails has changed, as I’ve grown older. They bring me a different kind of happiness.

The first time I thought of snails as more than a_________was when I saw something that_________ me in my garden. A small snail, _________a hard shell, moved slowly toward one_________bud and explored it. The exploration lasted for quite a while and, _________enough, the bud turned into a full bloom. Watching the snail carefully touching the flower_________me of the lyric: “Snails see the beauty in every inch.” I realized that the snail is probably a best representation of__________and taking life slowly.

Then, I__________the snail in my palm. It was scared by the sudden move and immediately__________back into its shell. I thought it would__________inside for several minutes, but shortly after gutting used to the takeaway, the snail poked its head out again. It was not just hiding but__________.

Giving ourselves time to nourish (滋养) inside and out, and waiting for the right__________to reenter the exciting life, is extremely restorative and worthwhile.

1.

A．knock

B．stamp

C．lean

D．click

2.

A．relief

B．satisfaction

C．sympathy

D．scare

3.

A．view

B．focus

C．debate

D．article

4.

A．pet

B．toy

C．pest

D．mascot

5.

A．puzzles

B．interests

C．comforts

D．distracts

6.

A．dragging

B．using

C．lifting

D．pushing

7.

A．eye-catching

B．breathtaking

C．familiar-looking

D．half-blooming

8.

A．magically

B．secretly

C．swiftly

D．silently

9.

A．cured

B．reminded

C．warned

D．informed

10.

A．curiosity

B．excitement

C．calmness

D．eagerness

11.

A．placed

B．covered

C．stuck

D．wrapped

12.

A．stepped

B．drew

C．crawled

D．walked

13.

A．wander

B．sleep

C．hide

D．struggle

14.

A．competing

B．resisting

C．exploring

D．adjusting

15.

A．reason

B．position

C．moment

D．choice

9 . I went to get a coffee this morning. A lovely lady came up to me and said, “You’re so pretty and I love your dress.” It made me feel _________.

Then I dropped my car off for repair, and the girl _________ me had attractive nails, so I said, “Your nails are _________ painted.” She said thank you.

I then got an Uber back with a middle-aged Asian man, and on the way, we _________ a very weak elderly man, and the Uber driver was so kind. Not only did he _________ to me but he got out and _________ the old man to the car, fastened him in, made sure he was _________, and comforted him. When he dropped me off, I said, “What a kind man you are!” I left him a big _________. He then messaged me later and said _________.

Later today, I got an Uber back to get my __________. When I got in, I praised the lady for her perfume (香水), saying how __________ it was. We talked for a while. Then half way through the journey, she __________ in her bag and gave me her perfume. She said, “It’s a __________ from me to you.”

I left her a huge tip, too, just as a reminder that sometimes a simple __________ can make someone’s day. Never be afraid to __________ something beautiful to someone. You may just make their day better.

1.

A．worried

B．peaceful

C．nice

D．strange

2.

A．comforting

B．serving

C．cheering

D．admiring

3.

A．beautifully

B．simply

C．thickly

D．completely

4.

A．calmed down

B．called on

C．watched over

D．picked up

5.

A．speak

B．apologize

C．refer

D．turn

6.

A．walked

B．sent

C．forced

D．drove

7.

A．healthy

B．energetic

C．grateful

D．safe

8.

A．smile

B．tip

C．message

D．card

9.

A．goodbye

B．yes

C．thanks

D．sorry

10.

A．car

B．groceries

C．bicycle

D．awards

11.

A．familiar

B．common

C．lovely

D．expensive

12.

A．checked

B．reached

C．rooted

D．brought

13.

A．gift

B．prize

C．reminder

D．wonder

14.

A．honor

B．encouragement

C．chat

D．praise

15.

A．teach

B．lend

C．say

D．introduce

10 . How to Face Your Fears

When you face your fears bravely, you open up endless chances to live your best life. By challenging what’s holding you back, you can finally break free from it. Following these practical steps will help you overcome (克服) your fears and have a brighter, more satisfying future.

Identify your fears

    1     Identifying (识别) what causes the fears within you will help you overcome them. With this first step to admit your fears, you can begin to overcome them. Take some time to explore further and identify the real source of your fear. Ask yourself: What are you on earth afraid of?     2    

Understand the causes

After identifying what your fears are, it’s time to explore what causes them.     3     Spend some time here exploring the nature of your fears. Ask yourself, “Why am I experiencing fear?” When you answer the question, you will gain an understanding of the basic causes behind your fears.

Set up clear goals

For you to face your fears effectively, you need to set clear and achievable goals.     4     With a clear goal in mind, you have the power to drive yourself forward in your journey. Breaking down your bigger goals into smaller ones is key. Taking a step-by-step way makes the process less frightening and builds your confidence as you go.

Take action

At this point in your journey to overcome fear, it’s time to take action. Start small by dealing with the least fearful part and gradually work your way up to more challenging steps.     5     You can increase your confidence in your ability to learn, handle mistakes, achieve your goals, and try new experiences.

A．Write down what comes to your mind.

B．By taking action, you’ll gain new skills.

C．To face your fears, you must first admit them.

D．Recognize what it is that prevents you making progress.

E．Identify the goals you want to achieve by facing your fears.

F．Accepting your fears will lead you down a path of personal development.

G．You can find the solution to your fears by understanding where they come from.